The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-03-10
LOCKE ED OUT.
A Story With a Moral.
Brother Dana Places Brother Cleveland
Figuratively in the Shoes of those
True and Tried Democrats
who "Knocketh at the
Outside Gate.r
New York Sun.

A few minutes after 5 O'Clock on
the afternoon of last Saturday a small |
man, rigid of moustache, and large |
man, voluminous of chin, might have
been seen in a carriage which pair of
seal-brown steeds drew swiftly to the |
sidewalk in front of the White House. |
There crowd of idlers ard strangers
was gathered The last of Mrs. Cleve- |
lands receptions was going Oh. To
avoid the crowd, the carriage was
driven to the west gate in the rear of
the White House. The large man,
who had already been recognized by |
the crowd as the Hon. Grover Cleve-
land, scrambled heavily to the side
walk and babe the driver take home
Col. Daniel Lamont.
The carriage drove away. Mr..
Cleveland put his hand stoutly to the
gate and found it unamenable to push
ing, securely and undoubtedly locked.
A furrow of surprise ploughed his
broad forehead. "Well, this is a
pretty business" he murmured, as he
stroGe around to the rear OF the
grounds to the Treasury gate. He put
his hand to this, too. He turned the
handle, he ratified and shook and
pushed, but in vain. He put his big
shoulder against it, but it showed no
relenting. The night was chill, but
rills of perspiration welled over his
face. His wrist was strained from tug
ging at the gates, his fingers were stiff,
his feet were cold. Fire flashed from
his eyes, and his heart was heavy. He
felt himself to be occupying an absurd
position; and the dread of being redic-
ulous is singularly acute iii persons be-
yond the ordinary weight OF man.
1t was most absurd. The hum Of
many voices reached him from the in
terror of the house, some soft Hunga-
rian air was floating from the band
stationed in the vestibule; as he knew,
the rooms blazed with lights and
bloomed with flowers, and many lovely
women, and one, the loveliest of all to
his mind, were listening with one ear
to that bright melody, and with the
other receiving the compliments due
to their charms. Yes, his wife was in
side and he was locked out. Mrs.
Cleveland was giving reception, and
Mr.. Cleveland, unregarded and un-
comfortable, was kicking his shins at
the Treasury gate, and wondering by
what blind fortuity or act of human
idiocy he was thus excluded from hi:
home, unwillingly divorced from hi:
own wife, and made to wait like
creditor or a poor relation. But a
last somebody happened to look ou
from a window Of the White Hous'
and saw the luckless President, ane
babe unlock the gate and let him in
Then it appeared that orders had beel
given to close the gates at S O'Clock
to prevent the admission of any NOR
D guests. The explanation was satistac
tory, but Brother Cleveland had nc
enjoyed waiting.
And yet it might have been profit
able to him for reproof and instructlo
n if no friendly eye had seen him tror
RS the window and no friendly hand ha
ended his lockout. These few minute
of impatient and angry delay, tn;
, surprise and disgust at finding himse
. shut out from his own house, shoul
give him at least some sluggish feelir
of the wrath and weariness with whlt
the Democratic party waits at the po
tai of an alleged Democratic Adml
istration. And as yet no friend
re hand opens the gate. They are n
na nd shut out by negligence or mistake, b
nv by set purpose; and that is where t
n bitterness of waiting lies. Remembf
ire ire Grover Cleveland, with what imp
ce, tient shiverings and stampings y
Ike chilled your nose against the 1reasu
entrance to the White House, a.
what fret and ferment possessed y
to be in. Hear the Democrats thu
. dering away at your Admlnlsiratlt
! Bounce your Mugwump porter;
3 down in your stocking feet like pl'
JacEsonian, open the gates and W
8 come your Democratic guests, a
order the bolts to be taken off. Orr
7 the band to play the glorious old DE
= ocratic hymn of Turn the Rascals y
J Then you will have a pleasanter pa
than you have ever had yet, and Il
v will make it pleasant for you.